Best approach?..scenario included

[CJ]

Scenario:You are going to a new lake that is opposite of what you are used to.You plan on fishing it for 5 days.What is "your" best tactic for figuring out how to catch mature bass?

[roadwarrior]

Hire the best guide on the lake.

A top-notch guide can put you on fish, suggest the best baits and techniques that are currnntly "hot' no matter the time of year. Professional guides have experience and knowledge of their waters that you simply cannot match in five days, probbaly not in five months!

[Siebert Outdoors]

Fish staple colors and staple bass patterns/structure.  Usually works on every lake I have fished and not known.  

[Catt]

Simple find structure, find cover on structure, and pick it apart with plastics and jigs  

[NBR]

I'm with Roadwarrior, hire guide he should put you on fish early the first day and you won't lose valuable catching time.

[Garnet]

Some good suggestions. Buy the best map available and leave it open somewhere. Ever time you look at it your eyes will go to the most interesting area and thats were to start.

Garnet

[Dan:]

Ask local anglers or bait shop owners, other than that, I usually just look at the lake for structures, probably points, etc...

[RI_Bass_Guy]

Find the best map available, Study it hard taking into consideration the time of year and current conditions and make several game plans..ie: fish points..flats..

Once on the lake, follow the first plan of attack for the entire day.If results were not what was expected go to plan 2. Then adjust as conditions dictate.

The problem with hiring a guide is there is no challenge whatsoever. After figuring out lakes for yorself for awhile you will get better at it and sooner or later your experiences will make this an easy process even on lakes you have never seen before.

I do this all the time, I will pick out a lake I have never been to and break it down as best as I can.

[CraigBaugher]

Scenario:You are going to a new lake that is opposite of what you are used to.You plan on fishing it for 5 days.What is "your" best tactic for figuring out how to catch mature bass?

Depending on clarity, but I would put my boat on the 20-foot depth line and track it around seeing where it was leading me -- the structure, the cover, the objects in the water, and transitions.   Then, it would depend on the time of year and region.  But even if it was spawn, I would spend time following the 20-foot breakline, and where it came close to a shallow flat, scan the break for transitions, and then follow the transitions into the flat.  That would give me the probable migration route and the ability to track them on and off the flat in the even a cold front occurred during the week.  Even if it wasn't spwan, I would do the same thing, but track even to deeper water -- up to 40-50 feet if clear, folowing transitions.  

[dink]

The guide will definitely point you in the right direction.  Personally, I contact local bait stores and ask questions.  Most store owners will not lead you astray especially if they think you will be paying them a visit to spend some money.  Then when you do the map exercises and exploration, you at least have a starting point.

[Bud]

I would go with RW on this one

[Pond-Pro]

I would consider the following variables:

water temp.

cover type

depth of cover

sky conditions

current

size and type of forage

fishing pressure

water color

and then pick the appropriate lure and technique.  

Hopefully that works  .

[dizzy5868]

I'm with the map guys. But buy as many different maps you can find. If the lake is man made, try to find an old map before the lake was flooded. You should be able to eliminate 80% of the water before you even get there. Add in the time of year and pick apart the last 20% of the map and narrow it down to about 5 % and start there with the baits you have confidence in.